Thank you, Jefferson Parish officials: Chief Administrative Office Tim Whitmer, President Aaron Broussard, and any other official who had a hand in awarding the long-term and quite lucrative garbage contract to River Birch, which coincidentally has a contract with Mr. Whitmer's company. We have had a 30 percent increase in garbage service rates and the worst garbage service I have encountered in 37 years as a resident of Jefferson Parish.

Mr. Broussard will not stand up and do what is needed, so it is up to the council to fire Mr. Whitmer or force his resignation before Feb. 1.

If Mr. Whitmer is allowed to remain in office until he is eligible to walk away with his much-inflated pension, perhaps the voters should do our own version of "getting rid of the garbage" in the next election.